Sometimes we get stuck with the same idea, not knowing what to change or how to improve it.
Forced Relations is a methodology that makes us imagine the unimaginable.
The first step is to choose an animal or an object. This will be your new customer, therefore, you’ll have to get to know him, understand him, empathise with him.
Once you create your new PERSONA and identify his needs you can relate your product/service with him. Make the required changes and discover new possibilities.
Like the SCAMPER method, Forced Relations help us see our product/service from different perspectives and as a result we get new insights that help us identify the features that add the most value and maybe new possible solutions.
The image above can be a perfect example.
Our product is a pair of glasses and our new customer is a playful little dog. We’ll call him Spike.
Spike loves running and playing with his owners, but while he does, sometimes he crashes with things he cannot see without glasses. He is a little messy when he eats and he is very joyful.
By analysing Spike’s characteristics we’d have to design an smaller pair of glasses, maybe with an elastic at the back so they don’t come off when he is running and playing. The glasses might probably need to be water and dirt proof in order to stay clean. And they should be colourful to match with Spike’s joyful personality.
Once you look at the new product closely you may notice some features that could actually work for human’s needs. In this example the colourfulness and the elastic in the glasses match perfectly with a baby’s needs.
Imagine the craziest products with Forced Relations and find what you were looking for.
